Chapter 8 - Trapped in the Corner
Desperation makes monsters careless.
Knowing that her father was ruined and that she was facing up to twenty-five years in federal prison, Isabella Rossi snapped completely.
Using money she had hidden in an unregistered offshore crypto account, Isabella managed to arrange an illegal bail release through a corrupt bail bondsman while awaiting her formal transfer to federal custody. Disguised in a dark wig, heavy coat, and sunglasses, she slipped past her guards at the Westchester medical facility late on a rainy Tuesday night.
She didn't plan to flee the country. Her mind, twisted by manic obsession and ruined pride, had settled on one final, terrifying goal: she was going to eliminate Khloe Thorne once and for all.
At 2:00 AM, a heavy thunderstorm battered the Thorne estate in Greenwich, Connecticut. Rain poured in sheets, lightning illuminating the sprawling stone mansion and manicured gardens.
Inside the master suite, Khloe woke up to the sound of thunder. She rolled over, noticing that Marcus’s side of the bed was empty—he was downstairs in his home office finishing an urgent international conference call.
Khloe sat up, rubbing her heavy bump, now in her eighth month. She felt a sudden draft of cold, wet air coming from the balcony doors.
"That's strange..." Khloe murmured to herself. She slipped on a warm silk robe and walked slowly toward the French doors leading to the second-floor terrace.
The heavy glass door was slightly ajar, the sheer curtains blowing wildly in the rainy wind.
Before Khloe could close the door, a shadowy figure stepped out from behind the heavy velvet drapes.
Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the intruder's face.
It was Isabella.
Her eyes were wild, unhinged, surrounded by dark circles. In her right hand, she held a heavy brass paperweight stolen from Marcus’s study downstairs.
"Isabella!" Khloe gasped, stepping back instinctively, her hand covering her belly.
"You took everything from me!" Isabella shrieked, her voice echoing over the sound of thunder. "My money! My reputation! My father's company! Marcus was supposed to love me! He was supposed to build an empire with ME!"
"Isabella, put that down!" Khloe commanded, forcing her voice to stay calm despite the terror pounding in her heart. "The estate is surrounded by armed security! You will never get out of here!"
May you like
"I don't care if I get out!" Isabella laughed hysterically, taking a dangerous step closer, raising the heavy brass object high in the air. "If I'm going to prison, I'm taking you and that bastard child with me!"
Isabella lunged forward, swinging the heavy brass weight directly at Khloe's head.
